DAY OF THE DEAD with Marta for 8th Annual Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival in Vancouver on Wednesday Oct 19, 2011

DAY OF THE DEAD with Marta
• Wednesday October 19, 2pm-4pmOppenheimer Park, 488 Powell
Here’s an opportunity to make some things for the Day of the Dead celebrations. Marta is from Colombia and will share how to make paper skulls and skeletons. Everyone welcome, bring your ideas as we will learn from each other. Free

The 8th Annual Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival

Wednesday October 26 – Sunday November 6, 2011More than 100 events at over 30 locations throughout the Downtown Eastside

The Festival is thrilled to partner with the DTES’s AHA Media to provide social media coverage (video/photos/blog) of the Heart of the City Festival. AHA Media gives voice to our local community and provides services for individuals and organizations to share their news and special events on a broader scale through social media. Founded in 2008 by local artists April Smith, Hendrik Beune, and Al Tkatch, AHA Media previously collaborated with Fearless City Media and has an ongoing working relationship with W2Community Media Arts and various other organizations and individuals in the DTES community. The members of AHA Media describe themselves as “definitely not mainstream media”. Based in Vancouver’s DTES, their style is described as non-invasive and unassuming.

Say Hello to AHA Media as they visit the Festival events. They will be happy to chat with you. Stay connected to the festival with AHA’s links – see photos/videos of the festival events you attended; take in a festival event you missed; or follow one festival event while you are attending another!

Top Festival Picks

8th Annual DTES Heart of the City Festival

With more than 100 events at over 30 locations throughout the Downtown Eastside scheduled over twelve days in this year’s Festival (October 26 – November 6), choosing what to see and hear becomes a delightful challenge. Here are our “Terrific Twelve” Top Festival Picks for 2011!

1. Sweet Soul Sisters of the Downtown Eastside: An evening of blues, jazz and soul that speaks to the story of our neighbourhood. Hear some of the strong women’s voices of the DTES, including Dalannah Gail Bowen, Rosanne Gervais, Heidi Morgan and Peggy Wilson accompanied by local musicians Michael Bellwood on guitar, John Cote on bass, Gary Wildeman on drums and more!

Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main. Wed Oct 26, 7:30pm. Free

2.Sophisticated Ladies, A Tribute to Women in Jazz: A special occasion to hear the soulful voices of Thelma Gibson and Dalannah Gail Bowen in a musical tribute to the women of jazz; with Michael Creber on piano, Laurence Mollerup on bass and Chris Nordquist on drums.

3. Carnegie Jazz Band with special guest Dal Richards: Comprised of enthusiastic amateur jazz musicians, the Carnegie Jazz Band is under the wonderful tutelage of multi-instrumentalist and composer Brad Muirhead. Joining the Carnegie Jazz Band is special guest and local legend “The King of Swing” Dal Richards. The festival is thrilled that the Honourable Steven Point, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia – and jazz fan – will attend.

5. The Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra Small Ensemble: We are pleased to present a small ensemble of the Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra, a creative and relevant voice of musical innovation, diversity and understanding. Musicians appearing today include Lan Tung, Moshe Denburg, Ali Razmi, Bic Hoang and Jonathan Bernard.

6. An Evening with Beverly Dobrinsky and Zeellia: Singer and choral director Beverly Dobrinsky reflects upon history, fate and destiny in Dolja, a solo show with spoken word, hurdy gurdy and song. The second set features Beverly with her group Zeellia, Vancouver’s own Slavic soul band playing songs and dances from Ukraine, the Balkan states and the Canadian prairies.

7. Elvis Is In The Building: One of the world’s foremost Elvis impersonators, now retired Morris Bates, part Shuswap and part Haida, shares music and stories with current Elvis Tribute Artist Velvis, based on Morris’ life and experiences in Vegas as the King of Rock ‘n Roll.

Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main. Fri Nov 4, 7pm. Free

8. Trisurgence: A new city wide cultural collaboration between the Chinese-jazz group Koan (led by Brad Muirhead), the New World Chinese Orchestra (led by Jin Zhang), the Chinese choir Huayi (led by Yaling Yang), the Renfrew Collingwood Aboriginal Youth Canoe Club song and drum circle (led by Matthew Sheena, with Squamish singer and carver Wes Nahanee) and DTES involved musicians.

9. Accordion to Immigrants: This concert of songs on accordion tells stories of the immigrant experience in the Downtown Eastside and Strathcona. Join Todd Wong, Alan Zisman, Roman Lipkovits and accordionists aplenty from the Squeezebox Circle and from the Lower Mainland.

Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main. Sat Nov 5, 1:30pm. Free

10.History and Social Walks: An always popular component of the festival, we are pleased to present a record number of walks this year to celebrate Vancouver’s 125th Anniversary:

• History on the Verge: Shining Light on Our Old East End Houses: Join Strathcona-based house history researcher and heritage advocate James Johnstone on a tour highlighting Vancouver’s oldest houses and stories of the people who lived in them.

Meet at NW corner of Dunlevy & Railway. Sat Oct 29,10am;

• Moments of Community History Walking Tour: Join Jean Swanson of the Carnegie Community Action Project on a walk through the Downtown Eastside where moments in community history will be marked by historical plaques.

Meet at entrance to Woodwards, 111 W. Hastings. Sat Oct 29, 11:30am;

• An 1886 Walking Tour: Take a walk with John Atkin, author, DTES/Strathcona resident and walking-history-encyclopedia as he travels along the streets and alleys of Vancouver as the City existed 125 years ago.

Meet at Maple Tree Square, Carrall & Water. Sun Oct 30, 10am;

• A Walk in Chinatown: Walk the inner city and learn about customs, symbolism and traditions of Chinatown from a cultural perspective with Bob Sung. Having a background in culinary education, Bob says “Food is my medium.”

• Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside Outdoor Murals: There are over 80 murals on the walls of buildings in Vancouver’s East End. Muralist and local legend Richard Tetrault will take us on a walking tour of about 15 of those murals located in the Downtown Eastside. There are sure to be many surprises!

Meet at front steps of Carnegie, 401 Main. Sat Nov 5, 11am;

• Powell Street Walking Tour: On this historical tour, Raymond Nakamura takes you back in time to the vibrant pre-war community of Japanese Canadians and Japanese immigrants who lived and worked in the area until their forced removal in 1942.

Meet at SE corner of Powell & Jackson. Sun Nov 6, 10:30am

All Walks: Visitors – $10, Locals – pay as you can

11.Ukrainian Hall’s Community Concert, Supper & Community Dance: The festival ends on a high note with three special events on one day at the Ukrainian Hall. Start your afternoon with the Association of United Ukrainian Canadians Community Concert, featuring the Barvinok Choir, the Vancouver Folk Orchestra and the Dovbush Dancers. Lively music, invigorating dance and colourful costumes beckon us. Special guests include Todd Wong who brings a cultural fusion to his accordion playing, and a musical tribute to The Milestones – “the finest folk music ensemble in BC in the sixties” – Gary Cristall. Immediately after the concert is a delicious traditional Ukrainian Supper followed by the Community Dance with the musical fun of Russell Shumsky (marimba, percussion), Bud Kurz (guitar), Kathleen Nisbet (fiddle) and dance caller Marlin Prowell. Grab your friends, neighbours, the whole family, and head on down to this toe-tappin’ heartwarming event.

12. Oppenheimer Art Show and Parade: At Our Kitchen Table: It is an honour to include in the Festival the 4th Annual Oppenheimer Park Community Art Show. The first art show helped to bridge the community through the transformations of a pre-Olympic city and redevelopment of the Park. Today Oppenheimer Park remains a community of people upholding the Park’s vision as a place for art, education, recreation, health and healing. The art show features works by new, emerging and established artists that reflect the vibrant and creative community in and around the Park and offers a unique perspective into the heart and home of the DTES. Join artists, community members and neighbours in an early evening parade from Oppenheimer to Gachet, led by Brad Muirhead and the Carnegie Street Band.